Birmingham Christian Scientists to sell church on Highland Avenue

The sanctuary of First Church of Christ, Scientist is shown in Birmingham. The building is about to be sold to Independent Presbyterian Church while church members look for a smaller building for their services. (The Birmingham News/Mark Almond)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- During the writing career of Mark Twain, Mary Baker Eddy was known for starting a worldwide spiritual healing movement.

Eddy founded Christian Science, a church focused on healing through prayer that Twain wrote about with a mixture of skepticism and begrudging respect. By 1910, the year Eddy and Twain both died, Christian Science had spread from New England across the country.

In 1907, there was a congregation in Birmingham's Southside. In 1949, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, moved to a prominent building on Highland Avenue, next to Independent Presbyterian Church.

After 62 years there, church leaders have decided to sell the building. A deal has been agreed on with Independent Presbyterian to buy the building by mid-August, church leaders said.

"This is a result of several years of soul-searching and trying to determine what's best for us," said Donna Gordon Metaxas, a longtime church member. "We just don't need that big a building."

Bo Grisham, chairman of the facilities task force at Independent Presbyterian, declined to discuss how the building would be used or any details of the deal until it's completed. "We're still in the middle of due diligence," he said.

Christian Science leaders said they hope their old building continues to be used for Christian ministry. "They've been our neighbor so long, to give them the opportunity to have it works out for us," said Kate Millhouse, chairwoman of the board for First Church of Christ, Scientist. "It's a good feeling to know that it can continue as a church property."

Christian Scientists still study Eddy's "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," published in 1875, as their textbook. It is read alongside the Bible in Sunday services. "She's the leader, the teacher, the founder and the discoverer," Metaxas said. "We do not worship her, but we do revere her."

Christian Scientists say in recent years they have been confused with Scientology, a church founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard that has attracted celebrities including movie stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

"There's a great deal of misunderstanding about Christian Science and we're tired of that," Metaxas said. "We've been beat up a lot."

History

During the 1950s and 1960s, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, probably had about 300 to 400 members in Birmingham, said Millhouse, a lifelong member.

Fewer than 100 now attend Sunday services, said John W. Lang, who drives his family from Tuscaloosa to attend.

When they are sick, Christian Scientists give first priority to prayer for healing, as taught by Eddy.

"We're tired of people thinking we're a cult and don't believe in doctors," said Metaxas. "If a Christian Scientist has a problem and is unable to work it out properly with prayer, they are certainly free to go to a doctor, no problems, no judgment. It's just a doctor is not our first choice."

Christian Scientists stress that they are Bible-believing Christians. "It's based on spirituality and the truth that Jesus taught," Metaxas said.

If the sale to Independent Presbyterian goes as planned, the Christian Science congregation hopes to either build or refurbish a smaller church building. "We want a nice place to worship, but the building is not our main focus," Metaxas said.

While it is growing in other parts of the world, Christian Science has had congregations in Bessemer and Midfield fold.

The Birmingham church also used to run a Christian Science reading room downtown, located on 20th Street at First Avenue North for about a decade. It contained Eddy's books and others to encourage the study of spirituality. The reading room was moved to a smaller location on Highland Avenue about seven years ago, then two years ago was moved inside the church, Metaxas said.

"As our membership grew smaller, it was difficult to have enough workers to keep it open as many hours as we wanted," she said. "I'm sorry we don't have one open to the public. I personally wish everybody in the world knew what Christian Science is. I've had wonderful healings. It's not just about healing the body. It's a way of thinking, based on spirituality."

Christian Scientists may be downsizing, but they hope to make a comeback.

"We not closing up or folding," Millhouse said. "We don't know exactly where we're going to be -- certainly in Birmingham, and focusing on outreach."